. 114 



Satuchet River and Monponset Brook. — Satucket River, 

 which takes its origin in Monponset Pond, joins Salisbury 

 Plain River to form the Matfield River, which is the upper 

 part of the Taunton River proper. The first part of its course, 

 between Monponset and Robbins ponds, is through a region 

 of cranberry bogs, on the site of the original Stump Pond. 

 The river is used for water power, and receives factory wastes. 

 At the outlet of Robbins Pond is a cobblestone embankment, 

 and at the lower part of the river is situated the Carver Cotton 

 Gin Company, with a high impassable dam, now equipped witli 

 a David fishway. 



At the present time there is no fishery in the Satucket 

 River, as until 1920 the alewives were unable to get to Robbins 

 and Monponset ponds for spawning. Formerly numbers of 

 alewives passed up this river, and a shad weir was once located 

 on the Matfield River. 



By the establishment of fishways and the affording of free 

 passageway to Robbins and Monponset ponds the available 

 spawning grounds for Taunton River would be increased, a 

 fair fishery in Satucket River would be established, and the 

 fresh-water fishing in the ponds would be helped by provision 

 of a source of fish food in the form of young alewives; also 

 the run of white perch would be permitted. By the establish- 

 ment of a concrete fishway in 1919 at the Jenkins Company 

 dam it was made possible for alewives to pass up to the dam 

 of the Carver Cotton Gin Company, where a fishway was 

 installed in 1920. Restocking of the ponds with adult alewives, 

 and proper enforcement of closed seasons, will be necessary to 

 obtain appreciable results within the next few years. 



Town River. — Town River, sometimes known as Titicut 

 River, has its origin in Nippenicket Pond, and flows for 7 

 miles to join the Matfield River. It is extensively used for 

 water power by several mills in the towns of West Bridgewater 

 and Bridgewater. At West Bridgewater is situated the di- 

 lapidated dam of the Easton Investment Company; at Bridge- 

 water the dam of the Stanley Iron Works; and below the 

 junction of the Matfield and Town rivers, in Paper Mill 

 Village, the Jenkins Leatherboard Company. At the two 

 latter dams standard fishways, designed by the Division of 

 Fisheries and Game, have been installed. 



